Jim Eacott, a native and lifelong resident of Avon, excelled on the AHS field, court, and track at a time when resources were scant and facilities, limited. Having earned nine total varsity letters, for football, basketball, and track and served as captain of all three teams his senior year – Jim is among Avon’s most accomplished athletes.

As quarterback of Avon’s 1965 football team, Jim earned All-Conference honors and an invitation to play for the North (regional) Team that same year. He threw seven touchdown passes for the Falcons his senior year and ran for three more touchdowns, leading the team to a 7-1 season.

Jim also shined on the track where he was a three-time state champion. He placed top 4 in the State Open as a junior, for the mile, and top three, one year later, as a senior in the 880-yard dash – an event in which he finished 4th at New Englands that same year. Among his other track accolades, Jim was both Charter Oak Conference and Class C champion for the 1-mile in 1965; and Class C champion in the 4x220 yard relay in 1966. He graduated with school records in the 880 and the mile.

After Avon, Jim went on to Tufts University where he played football – and the newer sport of lacrosse – all four years. He served as backup quarterback to "a record setting passer" and was awarded the team's Unsung Hero Award as a senior in 1969. Upon graduation, Jim joined the family business as part of the third generation of Eacotts to own and operate Bartlett Brainard Eacott (BBE) a general contracting and construction management firm. He retired in 2017, after 40 years as company president, receiving the David N. LaBau Lifetime Recognition Award from the Construction Institute, that same year.

Jim is past president of the Associated General Contractors of Connecticut and remains Chairman of the Board for BBE. He lives in Avon with his wife, Ronnie. Their three adult children, Lisa (Tom), Jennifer (Erick), and Matthew (Courtney) are all Avon High graduates, as well as three of their seven grandchildren.